The Piedmont Journal - 12/11/13

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xxxx DON’T FORGET: PIEDMONT CHRISTMAS PARADE SATURDAY DEC. 14, AT 5 P.M. RECIPES / COMMUNITY, 5

CHIEF LADIGA HALF MARATHON / NEWS, 12

CHRIS MAHAFFEY TAKES FIRST PLACE IN RUN

JESSIE MARTIN LOVES TO DECORATE FOR HOLIDAYS

The Piedmont Journal www.thepiedmontjournal.com

75 CENTS

WEDNESDAY // DECEMBER 11, 2013

COUNCIL

City asks lawmakers for Sunday alcohol sales Councilwoman Brenda Spears cast the only no vote LAURA GADDY Consolidated News Service Piedmont’s City Council members want their town to become the latest in Calhoun County with the power to allow Sunday sales of alcohol. The council voted 6-1 Tuesday in favor of a resolution that asks the Alabama Legislature to support a law allowing Sunday alcohol sales in Piedmont.

Councilwoman Brenda Spears cast the only vote against the measure. Ronnie Norton says he has been asking the city for six months to consider moving toward Sunday sales. Norton, who owns two Piedmont businesses that sell alcohol, said he thinks the change will help his bottom line. “It’s a matter of survival,” he said. “I think it would help a lot.” Alcohol has historically been a contro-

versial topic in Alabama, but there has been little public discussion about the Piedmont council’s decision. “Times change; things change. Maybe people’s thinking changes,” Mayor Bill Baker said Thursday. Though the mayor does not vote with the council, he said that he favors supporting any resident who comes forward with requests that do not violate the law. “I think this is an open-minded coun-

cil,” Baker said, noting that elected leaders often support issues in an official capacity that they disagree with personally. “You have to separate those things.” Baker said city attorney Ron Allen and City Clerk Michelle Franklin have been working to draft the resolution for about two months, something he and council members were aware of. ■ See COUNCIL, page 10

Christmas Residents now have access to more care parade, festival Dugger Mountain Saturday Assisted Living RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

Festival will be at 10 a.m.; parade at 5 p.m.

Care Facility opens

MARGARET ANDERSON Journal Correspondent Duggar Mountain Assisted Living and Specialty Care Facility opened three weeks ago at 1100 Dailey St., next door to Piedmont Healthcare Center. Phronsie Owens, who is a registered nurse in charge of marketing for Piedmont Health Care and Rehab Center, said there was a need in Piedmont for such a facility, which has 16 rooms. Seven rooms are for assisted living; nine are for skilled assisted living. “Assisted living residents,” said Owens, “still live independently but may need a ■ See FACILITY, page 9

Anita Kilgore

From left, Piedmont Healthcare Center director Sandra Keener, Mayor Bill Baker and Duggar Mountain Assisted Living Facility director Crystal McElroy.

The Piedmont Community Council is leading the way to get Piedmont’s residents in a festive mood for the season. The council, along with the city, will sponsor the annual Christmas festival and parade Saturday. The festival will start at the Clyde H. Pike Civic Center at 10 a.m. All vendors must be registered before Thursday and have an assigned space to participate. Only 35 inside spaces are available, so council members encourage everyone to sign up today. There is a $10 fee for each 9x10 space. Throughout the day, there will be Christmas carolers. Santa Claus will be there from 2:30-3:30, and there ■ See FESTIVITIES, page 10

Minister follows in grandfather’s and uncles’ footsteps

JOURNAL FEATURE

Rev. Michael Ingram is studying for master’s at seminary MARGARET ANDERSON Journal Correspondent

Anita Kilgore

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Rev. Michael Ingram at his church, First Baptist.

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THE PEIDMONT JOURNEL

VOLUME 32 | NO. 50

OBITUARIES See page 3.

• Floyd David Lockridge • Lillian Martin Williams, 99 6

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Need to call The Journal? 256-235-3563

RAIN PREDICTED FOR THE WEEKEND

Rev. Michael Ingram made a decision about 16 years ago that changed his life. He decided he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and two uncles and preach the word of God. Rev. Ingram’s grandfather, the late Joe Martin, was pastor at Piedmont Congregational Holiness Church on

Hughes Street in the ‘60s. His uncles, Hollis Martin and James Martin, were preachers. Monday was a day he’ll never forget. He officiated at the funeral of his grandmother Lillian Martin, who was 99 years old. Rev. Ingram said that his grandmother was a faithful pastor’s wife and enjoyed telling him stories of her and Rev. ■ See INGRAM, page 10

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